Former cop on trial for perjury sobs on witness stand

Chicago Tribune illustration

Chicago Tribune illustration

Jason MeisnerTribune reporter

A former Chicago police officer on trial for perjury broke down in tears on the witness stand Wednesday as she told a Cook County judge she was telling the truth when testifying in a battery trial more than two years ago.

Prosecutors said Sylshina London, a former Gresham District officer, was lying when she accused a motorist, Debra Green, of hitting her in the face with a glass bottle and several other individuals of threatening to physically harm her after London tried to drive around a funeral procession on her way to work in March 2010.

The incident prompted London, at the time a 9-year-veteran of the department, to call a “10-1” into Chicago police – a serious alert that she was in immediate need of assistance.

On Wednesday, prosecutors showed Criminal Court Judge Joseph Claps grainy video taken at 79th Street and Vincennes Avenue that appears to show the window of London’s car was closed at the time of the alleged confrontation, making it impossible for a bottle to strike her.

Testifying in her own defense, London said there were actually several separate confrontations along 79th Street and that she’d been hit with the bottle before the cars come into view of the camera. London said the prosecutor who handled the misdemeanor trial of Green and three others limited her testimony in a way that misconstrued what had happened.

“She (the prosecutor) wanted me to testify only to the one battery, so I testified only to the battery,” said London, who several times had to regain her composure on the witness stand.

Asked if she told the truth during the trial, London burst into tears and sobbed, “Yes!”

On cross-examination, Assistant State’s Attorney LuAnn Snow tried repeatedly to pin down London on where and when each alleged confrontation occurred and why she had not explained that in her original testimony.

Green was convicted of battery at trial in September 2010 based on London’s original testimony, while three others charged with misdemeanor assault were acquitted. A fourth defendant charged with assault died while awaiting trial. A federal lawsuit filed by Green and the others against London and the city is pending.

Claps is scheduled to hear arguments in London’s bench trial on Jan. 4. He could rule then.